What's going on do you think?
Thread Starter
Newbie
Joined: Jun 2003
Posts: 24
Likes: 0
From: Arlington, VA
04 CLK55, 86 BMW 635CSi, 02 Dodge Dakota
What's going on do you think?
Here's the background: I ordered a CLK55 in early March, and after some delays, I'm hoping to take delivery in a week or two. The communication between the dealer and I has not been a model of - what I'm sure would be - Mercedes's goal for customer satisfaction. For example, I sold my current car about three weeks "early" (evidently) based on the previously promised arrival date of the CLK; only to find out the car hadn't even been built yet! There a bigger tragedies in the world and I'm fortunate to have another car ... so no MAJOR biggie. Nevertheless, the salesperson indicated a willingness to "make me happy" in some way.
OK - to my question: I asked what their "compensatory" price would be to replace the AMG staggered 17" wheels with AMG staggered 18" wheels. My gosh, you would have thought I asked about replacing the Mercedes engine with a BMW engine!!! The salesperson - while saying they'll do anything I want - STRONGLY reccomended AGAINST changing the wheels on the car - even if they are AMG wheels. He was adamant that the car would never be in balance, the car would always have some kind of vibration. I explained that the CLK55 is sold in Germany (and other countries) WITH the staggered 18"-ers. But that didn't make a dent in his confirmed belief that this was a big mistake. So I said: OK, forget it.
Do you think he's just giving me the "easy answer"? Why would they be reluctant to sell me the larger AMG wheels? What's going on here?
Have any of you folks experienced anything like this? Does Mercedes know something we should know??
OK - to my question: I asked what their "compensatory" price would be to replace the AMG staggered 17" wheels with AMG staggered 18" wheels. My gosh, you would have thought I asked about replacing the Mercedes engine with a BMW engine!!! The salesperson - while saying they'll do anything I want - STRONGLY reccomended AGAINST changing the wheels on the car - even if they are AMG wheels. He was adamant that the car would never be in balance, the car would always have some kind of vibration. I explained that the CLK55 is sold in Germany (and other countries) WITH the staggered 18"-ers. But that didn't make a dent in his confirmed belief that this was a big mistake. So I said: OK, forget it.
Do you think he's just giving me the "easy answer"? Why would they be reluctant to sell me the larger AMG wheels? What's going on here?
Have any of you folks experienced anything like this? Does Mercedes know something we should know??
MBWorld Fanatic!
Joined: Mar 2003
Posts: 3,445
Likes: 3
From: WOT somewhere in the Bay Area
1951 Caterpiller D6
What a crock! You are right-ROW gets 18" onthe CLK55. I presume MB puts 17s on US cars because 1) our roads have more craters than the moon, 2) most of the US market doesn't understand the trade off in performance vs.ride 3) MB doesn't want to field all of the complaints about how harsh the ride is.
Go back to the dealer and tell him to give you what you want or find another dealer. CLK55 is a rare car but I'd bet you can find another one for at least sticker price within a 3 hour drive of your location.
Go back to the dealer and tell him to give you what you want or find another dealer. CLK55 is a rare car but I'd bet you can find another one for at least sticker price within a 3 hour drive of your location.
Super Member
Joined: Jul 2002
Posts: 757
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From: Oregon
C32AMG
You need to talk to someone
who isn't an airhead.The last time I got a line like that from a salesperson,my request for someone else to do the deal was met with a huge look of disbelief and a lot of groveling.Didn't work-I car-shopped with someone else.
